Your Letters: Jan. 1

Tree proposal appears sound

To the Gibraltar Town Board:

It appears that significant progress is occurring in resolving our differences as to the trimming of trees and brush along the roads in the town of Gibraltar. I have just reviewed the proposal submitted to the Town Board and find it is a very creative solution to enhancing the roads in Fish Creek. What an amazing group of individuals that join together for a common cause of beautifying the byways of their beloved Gibraltar Town.

How can their dedication and hard work ever be rewarded? They are true visionaries in the future of Fish Creek. The "Friends of Gibraltar Town Roads and "Cottage Row Home Owners Association" have come forward with a masterpiece that motivates the Town Board to join together in establishing a blue print for all of Door County to follow. From a conflict of ideas to a resolution! That is historic and must be a centerpiece in our personal lives.

I now challenge the Town Board to search their conscience and join in accepting the proposal submitted by these "like minded" citizens. You can push the envelope of creativity and responsive government forward. You too can leave a historic mark in the smart growth of Fish Creek. Don't pass on this chance to be the envy of Door County.

Show us leadership we can be proud of!

Al and Liz Stover

Brookfield

'Smoke, mirrors and shell games'

It's not surprising that our Congress has merged the cutting of the Supplemental Nutrition Assist Program (SNAP) by $39 billion with the estimated S500 billion, five-year subsidy farm bill. The only commonality of these two issues is one feeds the poor and one feeds the greedy elite of our country with our tax dollars.

The cutting of billions of dollars from SNAP is a policy issue that belongs in the budget that Reps. Paul Ryan and Patty Murray are boasting as a gridlock breakthrough. In reality, it is once again a manipulation by our politicals to increase the wealth of our country's plutocrats. Ryan's budget leaves intact all loopholes in our tax system that has millionaires and major corporations paying no taxes, and billionaires paying a fraction of what they should; of course our understated $625.1 billion military budget escaped Ryan's ax as did the $8.5 million endowment we send to Israel each day.

More wonderment is that 10 Republican congressionals who have a net worth of $124.5 million received $7.2 million in the form of farm subsidies. All voted to gut the SNAP program while voting to continue these farm subsidies.

The farm subsidies program and the $14 billion crop insurance program are a major fleecing of American taxpayers. A very small portion of these subsidies is paid to the small farmer who toils 24/7 to feed our nation. To educate yourself on the enormity of this pork, Google "Farm Subsidies" - assuredly you'll come away from that exercise wondering how this can be.

So once again, smoke, mirrors and shell games as the GOP treats us to apples-and-oranges budgeting. Our government is attempting to feed 47 million Americans on $3.99 a day, which the Republicans are fighting hard to reduce. Meanwhile, 1.6 million school children, classed as homeless, are sitting in classrooms with growling stomachs and toothaches.

Where's the sunshine?

Ed Hodges

Appleton and Washington Island

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Your Letters: Jan. 1

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